CostIndexUSA

Missoula, MT vs Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
CA
Santa Clarita
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Missoula is significantly cheaper than Santa Clarita — 17.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Missoula, you would need $94,300 in Santa Clarita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+79.6%
Missoula
94.9
Santa Clarita
170.4
🛒 Groceries+11.0%
Missoula
96
Santa Clarita
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.7%
Missoula
103.7
Santa Clarita
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.7%
Missoula
93.8
Santa Clarita
99.1
Utilities+120.0%
Missoula
72.1
Santa Clarita
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Missoula to see what you'd need to earn in Santa Clarita to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Clarita, CA
$94,300
$14,300 more needed in Santa Clarita

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 96.4) = salary × 1.1784. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Santa Clarita, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Santa Clarita has 79.6% higher housing costs compared to Missoula.

Income & Job Market

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

Santa Clarita, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
228,673
Top Industries
EntertainmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Clarita, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.